“That’s not fair,” Trev said back to her. “You know I’m not that kind of guy.”
“I don’t know anything about you,” she spat. “You lied to me.”
“I did not!”
“I should have known better when you said your name was just Trev.”
He grimaced, hating how she made him sound like an idiot when she imitated his voice. “When I’m outside the palace walls, I am just Trev, the soldier. Especially when I’m in New Hope.”
Her arms folded across her chest. “Playing the part of an unattached soldier is fun for you, I’m sure.”
“I am unattached.” He said it before thinking, then stammered through a pathetic rebuttal. “I mean, I was . . . kind of.”
She laughed mockingly. “That’s your explanation for flirting with me? Dancing with me? Not to mention the whole grass fight.”
“Last I checked, none of that is illegal when you’re engaged to someone you haven’t met before.” He took a step forward. “And since we’re bringing everything up, you forgot to mention swimming together in our undergarments.”
She rolled her eyes. “How could I forget that?”
He scoffed. “Yes, how could you forget that?” He couldn’t seem to get it out of his mind.
She glared at him, unconvinced.
“Okay.” He shrugged. “I admit that I shouldn’t have flirted with you when we first met. But to be fair, I later believed you were my betrothed. My actions were in earnest.”
“What are you talking about?” Her brows furrowed.
“You said your mother was the queen, and the prince was expecting you. What else was I supposed to think?”
Renna went silent and looked down at the floor as if playing back the memory in her mind.
Trev continued. “I felt so comfortable around you, and we got along so well. When I thought you were the princess, I couldn’t wait to surprise you in Albion as your fiancé.”
Renna gave a shuddering sigh and ducked her head, hiding her expression.
“I should have told you who I was.” His voice softened. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
For a few tense moments, Renna didn’t move. Then, quietly, she said, “My mother is the queen of New Hope, and Prince Ezra was expecting us.” She raised her head slowly. But when her eyes met his, Trev was surprised by the hardness there. “If you ever thought about anyone other than yourself, then you would have known that the princess you expected is not the daughter of the queen, but the stepdaughter.”
Trev flinched. She was right. He should have known that she wasn’t Seran. But he let himself believe that she was because he wanted her to be. He looked to the floor, running a hand across his face.
“Did you skip your history lessons, Prince Ezra?” Her voice was cold. “Or did you never care enough about your fiancée to actually learn anything about her?”
Trev bristled, the judgment in her tone striking a nerve. Without thinking, he snapped, “It’s not my job to know the history of your country. I have people who do that for me.”
Renna’s eyebrows flew up in shock, and Trev’s stomach clenched. Why on earth had he said that?
“Well, you’re exactly what I expected of Prince Ezra.” Her voice was harsh. “Stuck-up and arrogant.”
He shook his head, and defensively shot back, “You seemed to enjoy my arrogance the other day. You practically begged me to kiss you.”
Renna took a step closer, her fiery eyes burning into him. “Your memory fails you, Your Highness. You wanted to kiss me.”
He had wanted to kiss her. His eyes dropped to her lips for a moment.
What was with this complete lack of self-control when it came to Renna? It was just one more thing to feel embarrassed about. He hadn’t known she was the princess the first time they’d met. He shouldn’t have flirted with her or returned to Wellenbreck the next day, hoping to see her again. He was getting married . . . and soon.
“When I did all that, I thought you were the princess,” he argued even though it was a lie.
“Well, I’m not.”
“Thank goodness for that.” His words came out harsher than he meant. Why was he behaving so terribly? He had come to apologize. He wanted her to forgive him.
Renna closed the distance between them. “Yes. Thank goodness for that.”
Heat rose in his chest. Renna was here, in Albion, inches from him, looking more irresistible than ever. He wanted to run his fingers through her hair and get lost in her lips. It was weird how much her anger made him want to kiss her even more. He hadn’t kissed a woman in years, so why was that the only thing he could think about now?
They stood there, staring at each other, nothing between them but the rise and fall of their chests.
A hint of desire flickered across her face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“I wouldn’t want someone like you anyway.” She pushed past him, bumping his arm with her shoulder on her way out. The door slammed behind him. Trev paced back and forth before slapping his hand against the closed door.
He hadn’t wanted someone like her, either.
Until now.
The great hall bustled with servants and guests ready for the feast celebrating the arrival of the New Hope royalty. Men from Albion’s ruling class wore tailored suits with colorful ties, while the women on their arms showed off fancy gowns and glittering jewelry. Servants walked through the crowd with trays of drinks, keeping guests happy as they waited. Everyone stood in the center of the room around the bottom of the grand staircase, talking about the princess and the upcoming wedding to Prince Ezra. Across from the stairs, tables were arranged in a semicircle around the royals’ head table. Tall, arched windows lined the walls beyond the tables, but the darkened night sky prevented anyone from seeing the view out of them.
Trev waited on the dais at the head of the room, brooding. He should be mingling with the guests like his father was, but he didn’t feel like it. It wasn’t like he hadn’t done anything. He had met Seran’s friends and passed them off to some soldiers who were lucky enough to have the night off.
Drake hopped up on the platform next to Trev. “Prince Ezra! Don’t you look dashing tonight in your suit. You almost look as good as me.”
“Let’s get this night over with,” Trev growled.
“That’s no way to act at your wife’s welcome party.”
“She’s not my wife.” He was starting to pace now, but paused to add, “Not yet, at least.”
“And she won’t ever be if you don’t cheer up. You’re very ugly when you’re angry.”
The horns sounded, signaling the entrance of the New Hope royalty. Queen Mariele stood in the center of the balcony overlooking the ballroom in a turquoise gown that bunched together on the sides. Princess Seran and Renna stood on either side of her.
The crowd hushed, and all eyes turned to them as the herald’s voice reached the far corners of the hall. “Her Royal Majesty, Queen Mariele of New Hope. Her Royal Highness, Seran Alyssa Haslett, Princess of New Hope. And Miss Renna Degray.” All three women made their way down the middle of the staircase, perfectly centered between the two marble banisters.